Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Could you give more details on your alternative power system, and could it run off solar or wind? and estimated rough cost of setup. I need to convince SWMBO

I chose this method of UPS as opposed to an all in one type you can get for house hold appliances because if something doesn't work and I can't fix it I'll just go and get another one as the individual prices are small compared to the whole box & dice thingy.
The most expensive item is the battery depending on the type and size they're about $250 - $450 each which is one of the reasons I chose not to buy another but use the one I have. Keeping it healthy is another issue as their life is measured in cycles so the less cycles it experiences the longer it's usable life. Most batteries have a 50-40 % draw down capacity before they get damaged so 90 a/h is not real big considering I can only use 45 amps of it.

The 600 watt inverter cost $275, (for $200 I could get a 300 watt inverter).
The CTek charger was on sale for about $160 so I bought them both from Repco.

One of the biggest issues of moving low voltage energy around is cable size, the bigger the better, like the jumper leads for your car. I had a reel of 3 x 2.5 sq mm power flat cable, I figured 10 sq mm x 5 m each way was enough so I joined three flats together and left out one neutral.
I made a bus bar so I could terminate the big cables on the wall and connect the charger and inverter. I had to make another pin on the positive side so I could protect the charger with a 10 amp fuse from feed back from the genset's 35 amp altenator. The chargers clamps easily grip the bus pins so can be used for other batteries.

Solar and wind generated power will need to be stored in a battery and to maximise the solar's input you'll need a solar charger. depending on how may panels you have and how efficient you can afford to be you'd be better off with a MPPT controller.

Pete.

Looks good to me!

I'd been thinking about doing something similar, should really get around to it before we have another state wide blackout.

Hi Guys,
I'm beginning to see the lower edges of the FT through the Power Feed Tea I created....Topped up with about 30 lt of town water. Need to get a better quality timer for the pump. Planted 6 Perpetual Spinach from seed raising boxes and 5 mixed lettuce and 2 Butternut Pumpkin from gravel tray.
See test result.

Pete.

Awesome setup, and brilliant solar & wind low voltage description too.

Thanks Boss,

I replaced the Arlec timer because I found it often wasn't doing consecutive 15 minute ons. It would do one then just switch off for the next which meant the GB were not getting their fill. Also I think it wasn't allowing the full amount of power through because the new timer could more than fill on just 1 x 15 min.

Day 25 test PH seems to be going down while nitrites are off the chart!

Pete.

Best to use mechanical timers, nothing goes wrong with them. Start with a 24 hr, and then either 1hr or 2hr with intervals of 15 minutes.

Hi Pete,

issue seems to be that your nitrates are not shifting. They are increasing as well based on the last test image.
This can be an issue. Have you got anything in your beds or system that can use a decent amount of nitrates ?
seedlings are not going to do the job.

pH at these levels can be a bit deceiving because high nitrates etc will cause an acidic pH shift.

Have you got any clean gassed off water sitting on the side at present ?
I am wondering whether doing a fairly decent water change might be an option at this point just to bring things back into perspective. (Good thing you don't have fish....)

I have heaps of seedlings in and they're growing very well at least doubled in height in the last 3 weeks.
I picked up two more IBC's today, one will be used for spare water and the other a replacement system 2 tank.
Once in situ I can fill both up half way to gas off then do a swap. How long for the gassing off process and how much to swap over?

Pete.

On the image of the timer I marked the tabs that failed. I liked this type because I didn't lose a socket, arr well can't have everything. At least it didn't cause any major problems, was easily replaced and I got my money back without fuss.

Pete.

Australian scheme water from good source (sorry SA, Vic hills should be fine), no chloromines and no significant chlorine odour - 24 hours would be heaps.

if your plants are on the way then you could wait it out....
but water change might help provided it doesn't throw the system out of kilter.

maybe do it a bit less dramatic - say not more than 10% at a time and use the water on your wicking beds or fruit trees.
That's how I get my system nitrates down when they get up a bit in winter.


[edit] with timer I have about 7 of those - 3 on AP. Many couple years old.
had one failed in quite a few years. Wonder if its the wattage - mine would be low 130W for 2 pumps on each timer.

[edit2] actually I dont - I just noticed you have the double adapter ones - I just have the normal single outlet square ones with same dial (same as BYAP/Cheidys use for many years). what did you have on the second socket ?

Nothing,
I had the aerator (yellow) and charger (black) on a double adaptor on mains. The inverter said it was consuming 127-132 watts. The timer says it's capable of 2400 watts.

Pete.

guess I wont buy the double adapter one....

with the basic one outlet type in addition to AP I run couple on lamps and couple on top up chargers.
Arlec have (touch wood) been better than other brands I used in past.

We had (I think they went to the recyclers) a box of those mechanical ones, all very unreliable, so I would never use one in AP. I've had good results with CN102 timers, of which I have a number reliably (so far!) operating in my systems. I use them on 12V air pumps and large (for an AP system) 240V water pumps, as well as on my backup 48VDC/3ph AC CALVI pump, operating a relay in its box of electronics. By using 2 CN102s in parallel I have it come on every 8 hours for 20 mins, plus for 5 hours every morning through to early afternoon.
They allow you to set on and off times, so you are only limited to 43200 (not that you'd ever need that many!) on- offs/day. All the other mechanical and electronic timers are much more limited in switchings per day..

you got a bit going on there Pete and plans, plus dodgy power... might need to go down Gordons' path.

If mine failed I would just shrug my shoulders, my fish wouldn't worry too much as I stay low stocked.
but you are talking about serious fish in future. wouldn't want to risk them on a $10 timer.

pity there is not something reliable halfway between the two prices.